The Texans couldn’t actually lose to Jacksonville, could they? Well, could they?

The Texans haven’t been challenged by success very often, and that’s what makes Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars interesting. How will our kids handle a week when they’re actually being told “Nice job” instead of, “You suck?”

Can you imagine the reaction around here if they were to lose? I’d have to post a Daryl Morey-is-a-genius column as quickly as possible just to change the conversation.

Seeing how the Texans have had so little prosperity these last 10 years it’s impossible to know how they’re going to react. No matter how many mature players they’ve got, no matter how many solid coaches, human nature is a tough thing to overcome.

All of us like praise, but it’s how we handle that praise that’s important. Do we coast? Do we work harder?

One of the toughest things for general managers to do is to gauge how big money will impact a player’s performance, work ethic, etc.

Last winter after Carl Crawford signed a $142-million contract with the Boston Red Sox, manager Terry Francona texted him more than a few times to say: “Be yourself.”

The Red Sox didn’t need him to hit more home runs or steal more bases or anything like that. They just wanted him to keep doing the things he’d done with the Rays.

But money changes players, and in the first year of big money, Crawford wasn’t nearly the player he had been in the past. His challenge next season will be getting back to being Carl Crawford.

Texans coach Gary Kubiak’s goal will be to convince his guys that Jacksonville is capable of beating them.

His job got a lot easier last week when the Jags had a fabulous defensive effort in beating the Ravens 12-7. The Ravens were coming off a game in which they pretty much had their way with the Texans, and then Jacksonville plays a near-perfect defensive game.

“I saw a hungry football team,” Gary Kubiak said. “It’s a tough league, and they have played some really tough football games: at the Jets, at Pittsburgh, New Orleans at home. They had lost some tough games and came out and played like champion. That’s what this league’s about. It’s a battle each and every week. They were at their best Monday night and we know they’re going to be at their best against us. It didn’t surprise me. On a big stage like that, they went out there and played very physical against a hell of a football team…”

The Jags are sixth in the NFL in total defense, dead last in offense. Defense has been their signature under Jack Del Rio, and they’ve got a big active defensive front that could give the Texans problems.

“Their defense is as good as any we’ll face,” Matt Schaub said. “Their front is very stout and physical. Their secondary has been around and played a lot of football.”

It’s also a game the Texans should win, but the roadside is littered with them. They’re favored by 9 over the Jags and will be favored against the Browns as well. The Texans have never been 6-3 and in control of a division before, so we’re writing new chapters almost every week.